Why has it taken 18 months to get to this point?

[gizmo1979]

What took so long?How could this little bit of information taken over a year to collect?Is it because special prosecuters look to this as their own personal bank acct.milking it out for all it's worth?Is it alot of waiting around for people to show up for interviews.I like being thorough but this is ridiculous.

[rateyes]

1. Don't forget that

this prosecutor was waiting on the Supreme Court decision on whether or not Cooper & Miller had to testify...in the meantime, it wasn't his only case--this thing blew up into what it is when SCOTUS decided not to hear the case.

[MajorFlaw]

2. We have a winner . . .

:thumbsup:

[gizmo1979]

6. I didn't realize he

had other cases.I'd like to see his monyhly billing statements though.

[rateyes]

8. Personally,

considering how much money Starr made tracking down Bimbogate--and how much more important treason is--if Fitz is able to clean up the corruption of this administration--it will be worth every dime he earns.

[gizmo1979]

11. I'm just not a trusting sort

I think something has made me cynical.

[rateyes]

12. Wonder WHAT IN THE WORLD that could be...

I think most of us are members of "Club Cynic.":D

[babylonsister]

3. Does anyone know if there's any timeline when

indictments might be handed out, or when we'll hear the full story of what the special prosecutors have uncovered? Enquiring minds...

[rateyes]

5. Well, Miller can only be held until

she either testifies, or until the Grand Jury is dismissed. The media has been reporting that the GJ is only seated for another 4 months---Judy's jail term--unless Fitzgerald gets authorization to extend the investigation--we'll know something soon.

[babylonsister]

13. Thanks for the clarification. nt

[liberaliraqvet26]

4. does anyone know the background on Fitzgerald?

[rateyes]

7. Follow this link.

http://ttagaris.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/14/121710/894

[babylonsister]

9. Here's a thread on Fitzgerald that is encouraging:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1931051

[gizmo1979]

10. Here's one more link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55560-2005Feb1?language=printer

[madrchsod]

14. ever peel an onion?

[gratuitous]

15. When a bunch of people are lying or not cooperating

It can be pretty tough to sort out the wheat from the chaff, prosecutorally speaking. Remember also that Fitzgerald is dealing with a bunch of Washington insider elites, quite well-to-do with very good and very expensive lawyers. Also, Fitzgerald has to provide a certain amount of leeway to folks he wants to talk to, unlike a prosecutor who just has to ask the cops to bring some guy out of his cell at the state pen.

During the Iran/contra investigation, it took Lawrence Walsh more than six years to get to the point of trying Caspar Weinberger, a trial that was aborted when George H.W. Bush issued his lame duck blanket pardons in December 1992 of several Iran/contra figures, people who would have put the lie to Bush's famous contention that he was "out of the loop" on Iran/contra.

[rateyes]

16. I forgot about that little history lesson...

thanks for reminding us...W. isn't the only slimeball in the Bush family, is he--and, how many of those Iran/Contra figures are running the show today?

[charlyvi]

17. Watergate took longer.

It started with little misdeeds that blossomed into major crimes--and look what happened! Best to have all the ducks in a row before acting.

[Caution]

18. Because that's how long criminal investigations take

Pretty much all of them. Almost all federal casds take years before any indictments are handed down and then generally another 6 months before any trial or plea bargains and then if a trial another 6 months to the trial and finally afte that about 3 to 6 months until sentencing. Then after that if there are grounds for appeal that typically takes another year for the first round of appeals and then if it is appealed to the Supreme Court another year. VERY few judges however will allow a convicted offender to remain free pending appeal at the federal level. Basically what it boils down to is that this timeframe is not abnormal. It's pretty standard. Be patient.

[DoYouEverWonder]

19. Actually it's taken about 40+ years

but whose in a hurry?